Flying machine



. J. P. DORMAN.

FLYING MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED 815W. 8. I920:

Patented New 21, 19225 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JNVENTOR.

J. P. DORMAN. I FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPLQI i920- 2mm Nov. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 21, i922.

STATES Ltdtiitlii JOHN P. DORMAN, 0F DEER RIVER, MINNESOTA.

' FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed September 8, 1920. Serial No. 408,805.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. DORMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deer River, in the county of Itasca and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines and more particularly to the controlling means therefor.

An important object of this invention is to provide novel means whereby a lighter than air machine may be caused to promptly descend or ascend while in flight.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a flying machine having reliable means whereby the operator may direct the machine either to the starboard or port in a highly convenient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flying machine which is extremely safe,simple to control and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follOWing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

.Figure 1 isa fragmentary side elevation of the improved aircraft, Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the aircraft, the gondola being omitted, Figure 3 is a detail sectional View of the aircraftillustrati-ng the shifting means for controlling the inclination of the craft, Figure 4 is a detail sectional view i1- lustrating the means for rotatably supporting one of the rudders, Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating a portion of the controlling means, Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the bag or sustaining body which, as illustrated in Figure 1, is substantially cigar shaped. In carrying out the invention, the sustained body is made principally of aluminum so as to be as light as possible. The body 10 is formed of a plurality of spaced partitions 12 which in combination with the covering 14 form a plurality of separate gas compartments, 16. The partitions 12 in addition to forming a plurality of compart ments serve to provide the bag or body with a high degree of rigidity which enables the same to withstand strong winds and the like. The partitions 12 have their central portions connected by a longitudinally extending reinforcing rod 18 which in turn has its ends connected to front and rear reinforcing caps 20 and 22. The bag is also provided exteriorly of the covering 14 with a plurality of circumferential straps 24 which are extended below the bag to form hangers 26 for a gondola 28.

An internal combustion engine or other source of power may be located within the gondola and is providedwith a forwardly extending shaft 30 to which a tractor propellor 32 is connected. As illustrated in Figure 1, the shaft 30 is supported at spaced points by brackets 34 having their lower portions provided with sleeve bearings 36. The passengers, of course, arrange themselves within the gondola and may exercise complete control over the engine. a

Water tanks 38 may be secured to the gondola on opposite sides of the same and are provided with drain cocks or spigots 40 by means of which the tanks may be emptied should the occasion require.

The controlling means for, the aircraft comprise a longitudinally movable ballast 42 having connection with the ends of a controlling cable 43. With reference to Figure 3 it will be observed that the cable 43 is passed about spaced pulleys 44. and also about a large pulley wheel 45 mounted upon a shaft 46. The shaft 46 has its lower end provided with a wheel 48 adapted to be manually rotated by the operator of the craft so that the ballast may be moved longitudinally. The ballast is adapted to operate in conjunction with a horizontally hinged tail rudder 50 which is controlled by means of a continuous control cable or flexible element 52. The flexible element 52 is trained about a pair of pulleys 53 which are mounted on the upper and lower ends of a vertically arranged support or rod 54.

A portion of the cable 52 is connected to the intermediate portion of the horizontally pivoted rudder 50 so that as a longitudinal movement is imparted to the cable, the rudder will be caused to swing either up or down. The continuous cable 53 is passed through guides 56 and is trained about a pulley wheel 58. The pulley wheel 58 is mounted upon a shaft 60 having a head block 62 of T-shaped formation mounted for sliding movement in a slot 64: formed in a plate 66. The head block 62 is pressed forwardly by means ofa spring 68 which serves to take up any slack that might be in the cable. The pulley 58 may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 70 located within convenient reach of the operator.

The starboard or port movement of the craft is controlled by a rudder 71 which is mounted on the upper side of the body adjacent the rear end of the same. More particularly, the rudder is mounted upon a disk 72 which is provided with an annular groove forming a raceway with the opposed groove in a second disk 73. Ball bearings or other anti-friction devices are mounted in the raceway and permit the rudder to be turned to the'starboard or port in a highly convenient manner.

i The rudder has connection with a continuouscable 7 6 which is passed through guides 7 7 and about a pulley 78 similar inconstruction to the pulley 58. The pulley 78 is provided with a shaft mounted for sliding movement as the shaft 60 and is provided with a wheel .80 located within convenient reach of the operator.

In the operation of the aircraft, the ascension or descension of the same may be controlled by corresponding movements of the ballast and the rudder 50. The rudder and the ballast are capable of a variety of adjustments so that the craft may be caused toa'scend or descend as slowly as desired.

Likewise, the starboard or port movement o f't he craft may be controlled by an adj ustmentof the rudder .71.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is tobe taken as a preferred example of the same iaiidthat such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the lnvention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. The combination with a sustaining body, of a pair of straps encircling the body and suspended from the same, a gondola connected to said straps, a longitudinally movable ballast, a cableconn'ected to the ends of said ballast, a pulley having connection with said cable, a horizontally hinged rudder arranged at the rear end of said body, a cable connected to said rudder, a pulley for the second named cable, a rudder arranged above the body, means to rotatably support the second named rudder, said means'comprising a pair ofdisks and anti-friction elements mounted between the disks, and a source of power for said body. 1

2. In a dirigible airship, the combination of a gas container, a gondola suspended beneath said container, an elevating rudder horizontally pivoted to the rear end of said container, a cable connected to-said rudder, means connected with the, cable controlling the inclination of said rudder, said means comprising a sliding shaft, and spring means pressing said shaft forwardly to. take up any slack in said cable.

3. In a dirigible airship, the combination of a gas container, a gondola suspended beneath the container, an elevatingrudder ar ranged at therear end of said container, a revolving rudder mounted on top the con tainer, controlling means mounted in the gondola, said means comprising a shaft,a pulley mounted on said shaft, a slotted plate, a head formed on said shaft for sliding movement in said slot, a cable connecting the said rudders with the pulley, and spring means for pressing the saidshaft forwardly to take up any slack in Said cable.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J QHN P. DORMAN. Witnesses:

GLADYs Y. OLSON, OWEN E. HULEBAN. 

